[Sherman Logan]

Democracy's feeble candle is a pinpoint of light in the pitch-black night of autocracy

I'm getting tired of the misuse of the word "autocracy." It means rule by a single person, as opposed to rule by all the people or a small group.

Autocracy is not the real problem in Pakistan, where for a number of years now the mildly oppressive autocracy of Musharraf has been the only thing preventing the country's being taken over by Islamist nutjobs. Anybody who thinks the corrupt "democratic" politicians of Pakistan have the potential to effectively contest control of the country with the Islamist nutjobs without themselves using "undemocratic" means need to find something else to smoke.

[FocusNexus]

“the mildly oppressive autocracy of Musharraf has been the only thing preventing the country’s being taken over by Islamist nutjobs. Anybody who thinks the corrupt “democratic” politicians of Pakistan have the potential to effectively contest control of the country with the Islamist nutjobs without themselves using “undemocratic””

Precisely. It is quite frustrating that the US government can be that naive.

[org.whodat]

Autocracy is not the real problem in Pakistan, where for a number of years now the mildly oppressive autocracy of Musharraf has been the only thing preventing the country's being taken over by Islamist nutjobs. Anybody who thinks the corrupt "democratic" politicians of Pakistan have the potential to effectively contest control of the country with the Islamist nutjobs without themselves using "undemocratic" means need to find something else to smoke.

I have lived in the hell hole and I can tell you this is an outstanding post. I agree 110%.